LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, weekend, dropped a bombshell on the public perception of him being a stooge of his former boss, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he (Tinubu) is not a godfather to him but a political mentor.

It will be recalled that the public and the media had been awash with different versions of stories on the frosty relationships between the incumbent Governor Fashola and his predecessor, Tinubu, which was finally buried following intervention by prominent personalities.

Fashola made the remarks on Sunday while answering questions from the audience at a grand house reception in his honour as well as to mark the Nigeria 50 independence anniversary held at the Coliseum, Night Shift event place in Lagos.

He said: “I do not have a godfather. I have a political mentor in our Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I respect him a lot.

“I want to acknowledge a man who is so important in my life, an inspirational leader He was the one who gave me the opportunity of public service for a very first time in my life.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/10/i-dont-have-a-godfather-fashola/

Semantics!

kay_pumpin:

Semantics!

My thots

The difference between a Godfather and a mentor in Nigerian politics is the difference btw six and half a dozen.

na lie d guy dey talk tinubu na im GOD father

Abayomin70:

na lie d guy dey talk tinubu na im GOD father

lol

those are not six eggs, that's half a dozen!

Your Excellency sir, that is incorrect. How come you emerge as the AC flag bearer seeing  that you were the last entrant into the governorship race in 2007 if you have no godfather? Can you tell Lagosians what made Mr Jimi Agbaje to broke away. . It no news that you were imposed by powers that be.

Mi_Kenny:


He said: “I do not have a godfather. I have a political mentor in our Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I respect him a lot.

Yeah. Asiwaju Tinubu is not his god father. Lagos state is different from the rest of the country o. This is a civilized state. Lagos leads others follow. Up Lagos!!!

juman:

Yeah. Asiwaju Tinubu is not his god father. Lagos state is different from the rest of the country o. This is a civilized state. Lagos leads others follow. Up Lagos!!!

And the sun is green!

kay_pumpin:

Semantics!

abi o

juman:

Yeah. Asiwaju Tinubu is not his god father. Lagos state is different from the rest of the country o. This is a civilized state. Lagos leads others follow. Up Lagos!!!

hahahahahahahaha. Another unreasoning politico. Keep smoking weed.

for the fact that Tinubu brougt him into politics doesnt make him his God father.
Not every1 like bin a God father. so if u guys says the gov, is using semantics to confuse pple fine.
he may not really be his God father.
Y dont u want to believe politicians wen they say sth,even wen the few good ones are sayin the truth.

of what relevance is this?
You can call him whatever you which as long as he does not mislead you.

maybe he's got a godmother instead, tinubu's mother perhaps.

Read the title and was like who is he deceiving. Let me go and read the full text now.

well either god father nor political mentor what i knew is EKO ONI BAJE

Who cares whether it is semantics or not, who is bothered about who was imposed or deposed, who is fussing about political dogfather or godfather, what we want is someone that can give us results and to a great extent Fashola is best amongst his compatriots. Maybe you are not seeing the transformation in Lagos then you need a goggle. I think we need to understand that the Nigerian polity is systematically different from what you have in other parts of the world and it is still at its nascent stage. If not for those who understan the unique political terrain of Lagos state, it would have been lost to spoilers and opportunists who are determined  to see Lagos as a failed state. Prove me wrong if you can mention any credible candidate that would have done better than fashola in the last 3 years. Am waiting??

lajjy:

Who cares whether it is semantics or not, who is bothered about who was imposed or deposed, who is fussing about political dogfather or godfather, what we want is someone that can give us results and to a great extent Fashola is best amongst his compatriots. Maybe you are not seeing the transformation in Lagos then you need a goggle. I think we need to understand that the Nigerian polity is systematically different from what you have in other parts of the world and it is still at its nascent stage. If not for those who understand the unique political terrain of Lagos state, it would have been lost to spoilers and opportunists who are determined  to see Lagos as a failed state. Prove me wrong if you can mention any credible candidate that would have done better than fashola in the last 3 years. Am waiting??

TRANSFORMATION !

Its appreciated that transformation is on, but a reminder that its not a privilege but our right and with the 17billion naira monthly IGR Lagos deserves more . The Human resources is gradually suffering and no "structure " can be sustained where the human resources are neglected. The Doctors strikes,The Lecturers , and to say no one can do it better is like a curse ! If BRF is not tested how will you be a to proof he is "performing".

lies

Who cares.
Just keep doing the good work Gov Fashola
After your second term, Naija is waiting.
FASHOLA FOR PRESIDENT 2015, YES WE CAN

Lovely response! That's very brilliant of you sir. Abi na wetin dem want hear again? Carry go jo!!!

Jus want him to pay attention to the doctors.
Am sure if his families, tinubu's and the entire ACN stalwarts are using
general hospitals,it will not be close for more that 2 months.
Whateva excuse he has for not acceding to their demands,he should consida
dos wu cannot aford private hospital.
Becos of their strike, private hospitals are raising their prices.
Common widal test that goes 4 700,650, is now 1500.
what the hell is goin on in this country.

Are you telling us to give you one Godfather? why telling us? Do you think we care?

Yeah rite!

the man is just trying 2 be respectful yet preserving his authoritative image, good job GOVERNOR!

the guy has made his comment but you all interpret it the way you like. even in advanced democracies, politician have mentors , nothing strange about it but a mentor should know his limit, when he begins to interfere with the smooth running of government, then he should be whipped into line which in Lagos State is obviously not the case.

A mentor simply put is a person one emulate and desire to follow in his footsteps in terms of value sysyem and ideology. to equate godfatherism with mentoring misses the point but because we like to believe what we have predetermined in our heart, we convienently adopt our pre-disposition. Fashola is doing well, no doubt that. To say that Lagos receives more is begging more. What has Bayelsa, delta, Akwa Ibom and all the oil producing state done with their huge allocation including 13% derivation in the last 12 years.

He his just tryin to xpress his confidence that he can not be intimidated by anybdy! even thgh plpe know to his support, wsh count to attaining the governorship post

lookwonder:

the guy has made his comment but you all interpret it the way you like. even in advanced democracies, politician have mentors , nothing strange about it but a mentor should know his limit, when he begins to interfere with the smooth running of government, then he should be whipped into line which in Lagos State is obviously not the case.

A mentor simply put is a person one emulate and desire to follow in his footsteps in terms of value sysyem and ideology. to equate godfatherism with mentoring misses the point but because we like to believe what we have predetermined in our heart, we convienently adopt our pre-disposition. Fashola is doing well, no doubt that. To say that Lagos receives more is begging more. What has Bayelsa, delta, Akwa Ibom and all the oil producing state done with their huge allocation including 13% derivation in the last 12 years.

Very well said. Too bad many of the posters in this thread are known ignorants and illiterates, they read, reason and think from under their feet.